The Psychology of a Front Flip: Desire, Fear, Faith, Courage, Triumph
I always had the childhood fantasy of developing amazing acrobatic skills, but it was something I never took the time to actually study and train . . . until now.
In general, I tend to be the cautious analytical type but I also have a dash of daring craziness that surfaces every now and again. My latest episode of the crazies was a near spontaneous episode of experimental front flips (inspired/dared by this guy) in the sand pit of local playground. Keep in mind I had no formal training in this whatsoever. In fact, we only had a vague idea of the concept based on videos we had seen months ago. In any case, after lots of trial, error, pain and a couple of practice sessions later, I'm now pretty darn close to a full front flip.The front flip is a very basic acrobatic movement, yet so daunting. It gives me a renewed appreciation of the process that my Jeet Kune Do students go through when learning something new.
As my development is still fresh, I vividly remember the mental-physical-spiritual process that I went through at the beginning of my front flipping adventure.It goes something like this: the excitement, followed by intense fear, the leap of faith, the triumph and elation, the resurgence of fear, courage and persistence, and the eventual transcendence to a new level of mastery.
It reminds me of how important it is to incorporate my full self, mind-body-spirit, in all that I do. Here is the process condensed into a single front flip attempt:1. Desire and excitement powering the leap of faith.
2. Regret about diving head first into a world of potential pain.
3. Past the point-of-no-return. Acceptance and full commitment to succeed.
4. Perseverance, success, joy, excitement, triumph, confusion, doubt...
5. Resurgence of fear sparked by the memory of pain. Yet strength is drawn from the knowledge that completion is now an inevitability.
6. Sweet completion and relief. Retrospection, self beration for weakness and error, desire to improve, resolution to succeed, return to the moment, joy, happiness, gratitude.
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Nhan-Esteban Khuong, L.Ac.
Nhan-Esteban Khuong, L.Ac.
